JACKSON’S FOOT-CAVALRY” AT THE SECOND BULL RUN .

BY ALLEN C. REDWOOD, 55TII VIRGINIA REGIMENT, C. S. A.

'N the operations of 1862, in Northern Virginia, themen of Jackson’s corps have always claimed apeculiar proprietorship. The reorganization ofthe disrupted forces of Banks , Fremont, and Mc-Dowell under a new head seemed a direct chal-lenge to the soldiers who had made the ValleyCampaign, and the proclamation of General Pope jbetokened to the “ foot-cavalry ” an infringementof their specialty, demanding emphatic rebuke.Some remnant of the old esprit de corps yet sur-vives, and prompts this narrative.

After the check to Pope ’s advance at CedarMountain, on the 9th of August, and while weawaited the arrival of Longstreet’s troops, A. P.Hill ’s division rested in camp at Crenshaw’s farm.Our brigade (Field’s) was rather a new one inorganization and experience, most of us havingsmelt powder” for the first time in the Seven Days before Richmond. Wereached the field at Cedar Mountain too late to be more than slightly engaged,but on the 10th and 11th covered the leisurely retreat to Orange Court Housewithout molestation. When, about a week later, Pope began to retreat inthe direction of the Rappahannock, we did some sharp marching throughStevensburg and Brandy Station, but did not come up with him until he wasover the river. While our artillery was dueling with him across the stream,I passed the time with my head in the scant shade of a sassafras bush bythe roadside, with a chill and fever brought from the Chickahominy low-grounds.

For the next few days there was skirmishing at the fords, we moving upthe south bank of the river, the enemy confronting us on the opposite side.The weather was very sultry, and the troops were much weakened by it,

ROUTE STEP.

^ The following is the full text of General Pope’s•address to his army:

“ Headquarters Army of Virginia, Washington,D. C. , July 14th, 1862.—To tiie Officers and Soldiersof tiie Army of Virginia : By special assignment ofthe President of the United States , I have assumed thecommand of this army. I have spent two weeks inlearning your whereabouts, your condition, and yourwants, in preparing you for active operations, and inplacing you in positions from which you can actpromptly and to the purpose. These labors are nearlycompleted, and I am about to join you in the held.

“ Let us understand each other. I have come to youfrom the West, where we have always seen the backs ofour enemies; from an army whose business it has beento seek the adversary, and to beat him when he wasfound; whose policy has been attack and not defense. Inbut one instance has the enemy been able to place ourWestern armies in defensive attitude. I presume thatI have been called here to pursue the same system and

to lead you against the enemy. It is my purpose to doso, and that speedily. I am sure you long for an oppor-tunity to win the distinction you are capable of achiev-ing. That opportunity I shall endeavor to give you.Meantime I desire you to dismiss from your minds cer-tain phrases, which I am sorry to find so much in vogueamongst you. I hear constantly of ‘takiug strongpositions and holding them,’ of ‘hues of retreat,’andof ‘ bases of supplies.’ Let us discard such ideas. Thestrongest position a soldier should desire to occupy isone from which he can most easily advance against theenemy. Let us study the probable lines of retreat ofour opponents, and leave our own to take care of them-selves. Let us look before us and not behind. Successand glory are in the advance, disaster and shame lurk inthe rear. Let us act on this understanding, and it issafe to predict that your banners shall be inscribed withmany a glorious deed and that your names will be dearto your countrymen forever.— Jno. Pope, Major-Gen-eral, Commanding.”

Editors.

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